CLERMONT, Ind. - Notes from round 3 qualifying in Pro Stock at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 53rd annual Mac
Tools U.S. Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in
order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:
Left Lane: Bob Panella Runs 6.737/205.07, Now #20; Best prior run: 6.734/205.51, Was
#20

6:33 p.m.
This was supposed to be the good session, but unless it runs really long I think there's going to
be some problems for those not qualified. The conditions are remarkably similar to earlier today
and have not changed all that much though the track is cooling quickly.

Warren is barely in, and Tom is absolutely capable of getting in though perhaps not
under these conditions.

Warren steps up, so there is some hope.

Hammonds hits the
tires very hard and goes left. He has to be getting gunshy about dropping the hammer right about
now and that is never good for a driver's concentration. Left Lane: Ron Krisher Runs 6.729/204.98, Now #20; Best prior run: 12.589/67.05, Was
#31
Right Lane: Justin Humphreys Runs 6.696/206.42, Now #11; Best prior run: 13.852/58.25,
Was #32

Krisher gets a chance to flex all that Cagnazzi muscle on the lane of choice for Pro
Stock cars. He may get in if they get it right.

Just to prove me wrong, it's the "bad" lane
that gives up a good number.

Richie Stevens is on the bump spot at 6.710. Left Lane: Pat Herold Runs 6.779/202.97, Now #28; Best prior run: 6.784/203.49, Was
#29
Right Lane: Tony Rizzo Runs 6.798/202.39, Now #30; Best prior run: 6.884/202.06, Was
#32

Herold looked very good on the front half of the track but doesn't have the top end to
match.

Cunningham's Mustang is simply a great looking racecar. No need for fancy graphics,
the car looks plenty good with mostly solid paint letting the body lines shine.

Same story
for V as for Pat Herold. I'm not sure what's happening to the cars after 400 feet or so. Gaines
stays in the 15th spot and Stevens is still on the bump. Left Lane: Bob Benza Runs 6.707/205.32, Now #15; Best prior run: 6.782/205.51, Was #29
Right Lane: Bill Windham Runs 6.716/205.66, Now #18; Best prior run: 6.822/203.98, Was
#31

Before he pulls forward to stage, Windham's crew chief dives in the passenger door to
make some final adjustments.

Benza looked really good, as he was opening a half a car gap on
his competition with every gear change. He's in for now.

V. Gaines is on the bump spot at
6.708, and he's already run this session. Left Lane: Jeg Coughlin Runs 6.703/205.66, Now #6; Best prior run: 6.675/206.01, Was
#6
Right Lane: Larry Morgan Runs 6.673/206.39, Now #5; Best prior run: 6.669/206.35, Was
#5

Coughlin was really lazy on the bottom, but Morgan sure wasn't. He lays down a really
strong pass, though he stays put in the order. Left Lane: Bill Glidden No Time, Now #28; Best prior run: 6.756/204.39, Was #28
Right Lane: Matt Hartford Runs 6.772/203.86, Now #29; Best prior run: 6.764/204.14, Was
#29

Glidden shakes hard and shuts it off before it's time to shift.

Hartford goes
down the track but doesn't gain any position. Left Lane: Mike Edwards Runs 6.731/204.63, Now #13; Best prior run: 6.699/205.19, Was
#13
Right Lane: Rickie Smith Runs 6.735/204.48, Now #23; Best prior run: 6.731/204.42, Was
#23

Rickie's return to NHRA racing has not been all that rosy. He has a whole bunch of
experience (and success) at this track so don't be surprised to see him become one of the few to
step up. Problem is, he's got at least 7 spots to gain.

The cars are welded together but
neither is quick enough to make a difference. Left Lane: Kevin Lawrence Runs 6.728/204.14, Now #22; Best prior run: 6.749/202.30,
Was #27
Right Lane: Matt Scranton Runs 15.801/51.80, Now #21; Best prior run: 6.727/204.98, Was
#21

Lawrence makes one of the longest Pro Stock burnouts I can remember seeing. The engine
was singing as he crossed the starting line and the smoke just kept rolling for a long way down the
track.

Lawrence may be on to something as he has a really good front half but just misses
the ET he needs. Scranton's car stands up and points off center so he lifts. Left Lane: Ben Watson Runs 6.741/203.92, Now #27; Best prior run: 6.749/203.80, Was
#27
Right Lane: Dave Northrop Runs 6.715/205.54, Now #18; Best prior run: 6.720/205.22, Was
#19

Northrop loses a lot on the starting line but still cards a decent ET. He just
misses. Left Lane: Jason Line Runs 6.694/205.82, Now #11; Best prior run: 6.739/206.76, Was
#26
Right Lane: Richie Stevens Runs 14.590/69.26, Now #18; Best prior run: 6.710/205.91,
Was #17

It's hard to believe that neither of these cars are qualified yet. Want to bet that's
going to change?

Gaines' 6.708 is the target for both these racers.

Stevens shakes
hard and Line gets in, bumping Gaines.

Bob Benza is now on the bump spot at 6.707. Left Lane: Craig Hankinson Runs 6.706/204.85, Now #10; Best prior run: 6.688/206.07,
Was #10
Right Lane: Greg Stanfield Runs 6.699/206.01, Now #9; Best prior run: 6.684/206.04, Was
#9

It's good to see the Stanfield team finally get untracked and run to their potential.

Both he and Hankinson are probably safe but there's some priceless track data to be
gained.

Hankinson kills the 60 foot, but look at the numbers and you'll see that's not
everything as Stanfield ends up outrunning him.

Johnson
quivered the tires on the launch but never went into heavy shake like Richie Stevens
did.

Warren Johnson is now on the bump spot at 6.706. Left Lane: Kenny Koretsky Runs 6.776/205.22, Now #8; Best prior run: 6.678/206.29, Was
#8
Right Lane: Dave Connolly Runs 6.692/205.47, Now #4; Best prior run: 6.662/205.88, Was
#4

Nobody moves up or down in the order. Left Lane: Greg Anderson Runs 6.677/206.67, Now #8; Best prior run: 6.697/207.24, Was
#13
Right Lane: Max Naylor Runs 6.699/205.44, Now #1; Best prior run: 6.655/206.39, Was #1

Here's where it gets interesting. Naylor has been the quickest Pro Stock on the
property for two straight sessions.

Now he's head to head with the guy who's known for
ripping hearts out.

The King blinks in the staredown! The cars leave together and stay side
by side. Though he's a touch quicker than Naylor, he's not quick enough to take over the top
spot.

Indy is known for Cinderella stories, and this one is shaping up nicely for the Max
Naylor Jagermeister team.